inkbluesky

There will be hate mail, Moses was high on drugs: Israeli researcher

JERUSALEM (AFP) - High on Mount Sinai, Moses was on psychedelic drugs when he heard God deliver the Ten Commandments, an Israeli researcher claimed in a study published this week.

Such mind-altering substances formed an integral part of the religious rites of Israelites in biblical times, Benny Shanon, a professor of cognitive psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem wrote in the Time and Mind journal of philosophy.

Physical anthropologists make claims about the general culture of an ancient village based on frequently bits and pieces of evidence. Thus their academic papers are filled with caveats. The idea that their was an actual Moses and that he took drugs based on studies of ancient era drug use in the Middle_east isn’t offensive to me at least. I’m just curious about the depth of evidence to make the claim that since drug use was widespread that it means this one particular individual was using those drugs and used them at precise moments in his life without any corroborating written accounts or forensic evidence. Since Israelites of the time did use drugs it does indicate the possibility, maybe even the likelihood, but not proof.

don’t be afraid

Why do bright people do dumb things, Students With Cell Phones May Take More Risks, Study Finds

Carrying a cell phone may cause some college students – especially women – to take risks with their safety, a new study suggests. A survey of 305 students at one campus found that 40 percent of cell phone users said they walked somewhere after dark that they normally wouldn’t go.

A separate survey found that about three-quarters of students said that carrying a cell phone while walking alone at night made them feel somewhat or a lot safer.

“Students seem to feel less vulnerable when they carry a cell phone, although there’s not evidence that they really are,” said Jack Nasar, co-author of the study and professor of city and regional planning at Ohio State University.

Just coincidently the other day I heard that a city’s police response time to the average high priority 911 call was 20 minutes plus and that is if your attacker allows you time to dial 911.